Nuevo Leon, Pilsen

This is straight up authentic Mexican comfort food. It's not watered down, it's not held back, it just is what it is, and as a result hits all the right notes. Nuevo Leon has been in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood since 1962. The menu is expansive, and making a decision can be hard. The standout dish on the menu is carne a la tampiquena. A massive skirt steak is served alongside rice, beans, AND a cheese enchilada. The beans are some of the best you'll ever have outside abuela's kitchen. The fat content is through the roof, but fat is flavor.

I also had some menudo, or tripe soup usually reserved for Sunday hangovers. It was spicy, and the tripe had perfect texture. It rivaled any taqueria's menudo that I've had.

Nuevo Leon is cash only, so hit an ATM on the way. Pilsen is home to mostly working class Mexicans, and is safe to walk around. The worst threat I experienced was the offer of tamales on the street, which in retrospect I should have purchased. If you take the pink line, stop into the little bakery just before. It offers a variety of Mexican breads and pastries. The ladies behind the counter are sweet as pie, and the selections are excellent.

BBQ King House, Chinatown

Hong Kong BBQ. It's a guilty pleasure, it's a way of life, it's a Cantonese staple.

You can either sit there and eat, or take it to go. I've found that BBQ pork with a side of roast pork is the best precursor to other Chinese endeavors. Stop in, get a half pound of each, share, move on. It's best eaten on the street near a trash can to spit the bones in. BBQ King House in Chicago's Chinatown is right in the middle of all the good places in Chinatown Square Plaza, making it a convenient find.

Tank Noodle, Argyle

Nothing says comfort like rocket fuel coffee, rice crepes and curry. Tank Noodle is one of the cornerstones of Vietnamese food in Chicago. I first ate here before going to Alinea (really) since I was all nervous about going and needed something familiar to cross my palette. Tank is your standard issue pho joint with some welcome extras. It's one of those places that serves pho, bun, banh mi, banh cuon, and curry. Three of us dined heartily on all of the above, with the addition of duck salad and rice paper roll-your-owns. Their iced coffee is super strong. If you're sensitive to caffeine, you may want to skip it. The flavors here are nice and authentic, and the staff is glad you're here, especially if you know a thing or two about Vietnamese food. Tank Noodle is located in Chicago's Argyle neighborhood, which is traditionally Vietnamese and Cambodian.

Irazu, Bucktown

When you find something rare and slightly off the beaten path, follow the white rabbit to the end of the line. My culinary tour of Central America has been a fascinating journey. I've had Nicaraguan in Toronto, Salvadorian in Dallas, Honduran in Las Vegas, and now Costa Rican in Chicago. While much of the cuisine is similar from country to country, there are nuances that separate them. What sets Costa Rican cuisine is the way the people embrace it. Pura vida, or full of life, is a commonly used colloquialism that is duly applied in the kitchen. A rule of eating Latin American cuisine is always get the ceviche. Even though it is very trendy right now in haute restaurants, the best versions come right from the roots. Costa Rican ceviche is no exception. It is fine and delicate, and bursts with citrus flavors. Also exceptional is a dish called Chifrijo, which is layers of black beans, white rice, fried pork chunks and pico de gallo. For mains, go with meat dishes. As we were with a Costa Rican expat, it was explained that this was mountain style food, and not coastal food. As such, meats are more regularly cultivated and consumed in this region. The best way to go is with a dish called El Tico. It's a close cousin of carne asada, consisting of grilled steak, onions, peppers, plantains, and an egg. Be prepared, Irazu is BYOB and cash only.